Battle of Gingindlovu
Battle of Gingindlovu (uMgungundlovu) | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo-Zulu War | |||||||
The final repulse of the Zulus at Ginghilovo, from a sketch supplied by Lieutenant-Colonel J. North Crealock | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
British Empire | Zulu Kingdom | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lord Chelmsford | Somopho kaZikhala[1] | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
5,670 2 × Gatling Guns | 11,000[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
11 killed 62 wounded[2] | 1,000+ killed[2] |
The Battle of Gingindlovu (uMgungundlovu) was fought on 2 April 1879 between a British relief column sent to break the Siege of Eshowe and a Zulu impi of King Cetshwayo.
Prelude
On 29 March the relief operation began, the force being ferried across the Tugela river. Despite travelling light, with no baggage or tents, progress was slow. Chelmsford took a route further to the east than Pearson, to avoid ambush in the close country Pearson had passed through. Rivers were swollen by heavy rains whioch fell each night and fearing a repeat of
The ground sloped away in all directions, allowing a good field of fire. A trench surrounded a waist-high wall of earth, which enclosed 120 wagons, forming a square with sides 130 yd (120 m) long. While these defences were being constructed, mounted scouts spotted small parties of Zulus beyond Umisi Hill. That evening, a mist covered the valley and John Dunn made a reconnaissance, convinced that the mist concealed Zulu campfires. Accompanied by Captain William Molyneux of Lord Chelmsford's staff, Dunn make his way to the Ineyzane, which he swam across to examine the ground beyond. Dunn found an impi camp and narrowly avoided detection before rejoining Molyneux and reporting to Chelmsford.[6] This impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe. Some of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack Chelmsford's forces that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande, half-brother of King Cetshwayo and commander of the impi's right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.[7]
Battle
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a heavy mist. Chelmsford had decided after hearing Dunn's report to not continue on toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the Natal Native Contingent to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the laager's north-east corner, while the "chest" gently curved toward the north face of the laager. Another force passed Misi Hill and approached the laager, forming the impi's right horn.[8]
The buffalo formation came in at a run on the three sides of the laager as Chelmsford had wanted; at a range of 300–400 yd (270–370 m) the British infantry opened fire, supported by the Gatling guns and rockets. Zulu marksmen caused a few casualties within the laager but the defenders kept the Zulus at bay.
Aftermath
Analysis
The battle restored Chelmsford's confidence in his army and their ability to defeat Zulu attacks. With the last resistance between Chelmsford and Pearson's columns removed, he was able to advance and raise the siege of Eshowe.[11]
Casualties
By 7:30 a.m., the Zulus had fled, leaving 1,100 dead and wounded behind; the British began to kill the Zulu wounded. Around the laager 700 Zulu bodies were counted and 300 more were killed during the pursuit. The British suffered two officers and nine men killed, including a lieutenant-colonel and four officers and fifty men wounded.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Laband 2009, p. 6.
- ^ a b c Colenso 1880, p. 384.
- ^ Greaves 2012, p. 111.
- ^ Theal 1919, p. 334.
- ^ Greaves 2012, pp. 111–112.
- ^ Castle & Knight 1994, pp. 186–187.
- ^ Castle & Knight 1994, pp. 193.
- ^ Castle & Knight 1994, pp. 187–188, 193.
- ^ Castle & Knight 1994, pp. 195–205.
- ^ Castle & Knight 1994, pp. 206–210.
- ^ Greaves 2012, p. 121.
- ^ Greaves 2012, p. 117.
Bibliography
- Colenso, Frances E. (1880). History of the Zulu War and Its Origin. Assisted by Edward Durnford. London: OCLC 251961801– via Archive Foundation.
- Castle, Ian; Knight, Ian (1994). Fearful Hard Times: The Siege and Relief of Eshowe, 1879. Mechanicsburg, PA: Greenhill Books. ISBN 978-1-85367-180-7.
- Greaves, Adrian (2012). Forgotten Battles of the Zulu War. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-84884-746-0.
- Laband, John (2009). Historical Dictionary of the Zulu Wars. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6078-0.
- Theal, George McCall (1919). "XIV, The Zulu War". History of South Africa from 1873–1884: Twelve Eventful Years with Continuation of the History of Galekaland, Tembuland, Pondoland, and Betshuanaland until the Annexation of those Territories to the Cape Colony, and of Zululand until its Annexation to Natal. History of South Africa. Vol. I. London: George Allen and Unwin. p. 334. OCLC 988723011– via Archive Foundation.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-304-36270-0.
- Brookes, Edgar H.; Webb, Colin de B. (1965). A History of Natal. ISBN 0-86980-579-7.
- David, Saul (2005). Zulu, The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-101569-1.
- Gump, James O. (1996). The Dust Rose Like Smoke: The Subjugation of the Zulu and the Sioux. Bison Books. ISBN 0-8032-7059-3– via Archive Foundation.
- ISBN 0-86985-829-7.
- Lock, R. (1995). Blood on the Painted Mountain: Zulu Victory and Defeat, Hlobane and Kambula, 1879. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-201-7.
- Martineau, John (1895). The Life and Correspondence of the Sir Bartle Frere (2nd ed.). John Murray. OCLC 4722718.
- ISBN 0-306-80866-8.
- Knight, Ian (2003). The Anglo-Zulu War. Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-612-7.
- Raugh, Harold E. Jr. (2011). Anglo-Zulu War 1879: A Selected Bibliography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7227-1.
- Thompson, Paul Singer (2006). Black Soldiers of the Queen: the Natal Native Contingent in the Anglo-Zulu War. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-5368-2.
- Spiers, Edward M. (2006). The Scottish Soldier and Empire, 1854–1902. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-2354-9.